Youth overcome

First-time double over our local rivals

For the first time ever we managed to complete the double over our near neighbours with a 2-0 victory following our 3-2 win away from home earlier in the season.
On a cold, windy day on a pitch that was a surprise to most that we played on - the Boys rand out deserved winners against a side who, before the start of play, were sitting 4th in the table and 7 points ahead of ourselves.
After a brief discussion pre-match, it was decided to not tinker with the set up but maintain our 3-4-3 formation that had served us so well against Bitton.
Introduced for his first game in goal was new signing Tom Guy, and what an introduction it was, pulling off some fine saves and looking really accomplished coming off his line and constantly communicating to the back 3.
Chances came at both ends as we kicked down the slope in the firs half, Foulner and Evans both setting up Worley who had his 2 clear chances well saved by the Youth keeper, Fowler heading wide and a disallowed goal for offside, whilst at the other end Youth had their own chances and went close and hit the bar.

To be honest, we did fear the worst changing round at 0-0, and soon into the 2nd half we were straight under the cosh - we quickly reverted to a 3-5-2 formation which stemmed the tide and not long after we went ahead - a superb individual goal from Fleming who picked the ball up halfway inside Youth's half - out-sprinted the defence and from an extremely tight angle fired an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net.

Back Youth came, the front three were changed again with Riggs going up top, Thompson back into CM and Harbidge playing left and Edward splaying right - Braund, Bryant and Evans had played their part in shutting up shop. With about 5 minutes left the killer second goal came, and what a goal it was.

Foulner played a short goal kick to Jefferson, he played a quick 1-2 with Harbidge and then found a ball to Fowler in midfield. A quick switch of play and Ollie Edwards played a superb through ball to Riggs who had half of the pitch to go - a neat confident last touch saw him round the on-rushing keeper and he composed himself to slot into an empty net. A wonderful team goal from end to end with no opposition getting a touch - just what we like to see and how we want to play.

Overall a great performance epitomized not just by the last goal, but a willingness to defend and throw bodies in the way of shots as well as a real team togetherness.